Suspension for vehicles



Jam 39 w33, A. DUBONNET L892,37

l SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l @M 1 N ekvk Jam 39 1933., A. DUBONNET SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES liatentedl dan. 3,E933 ANDR IDUEOINET, F NEUILLY SUR SEINE, FRANCE SUSPJEWSON FOR'VEHICLES ademt@ fj gill application filed -ecember 20, 1929, Serial No.415,50, and in Belgium October 23, 19539.

The present invention relates to suspensions for vehicles.

@ne of the objects of the invention is to provide means for suspendingeach of the wheels of a vehicle independently.

Another object is to provide shock-absorbing means adapted to reactindependently on each wheel.

Further objects will appear in the course of l@ the detailed descriptionnow to be given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichFig. l is a partial section taken on line 1.-1 of Fig. 2 andrepresenting one illustra- `tive embodiment of the invention. y

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of Fig.

,Figa 3 is a section passing through line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

lFig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective of an assembled chassis andWheels.

Referring to the various figures of the drawings, there is shown aplurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the free end of oscillatablearms zr-tapered shaft b having recesses formed therein adapted tovengage with corresponding elongated keys formed integral with arms a,elements a and b being maintained in assembled relation by a suitablenut and Cotter-pin assembly b engaging with shaft 6,--a plurality ofarms c formed integral with, or rigidly attached to, shaft b,-

ball-bearings are placed at d1, d2 supporting elements and 0,-and ashock-absorbing assembly enclosed in threadedly engaging casing elementse and el and consisting ofa plurality of springs f1,j2 reacting atopposite extremities (l) on a cylinder g threadedly engaging with casinge and (2) on a hollow piston z', the end-portionz'1 of elements z' beingprovided with conical orifices 0 adapted to oler a greater resistance tothe exit than to the entry of lubricating fluid into the chamberslimited externally by assemblies g, z', re-

5 silient reacting assemblies composed of springs j, head-elements 7Land end-plugs g2 serving to maintain arms c in contact with ends 1 ofpistons z', frictional assemblies for reducing the amplitude of rotationof arms c comprising buttons j1 secured to the latter and frictionallyengaging with arcuate elements j2 held in contact with buttons j1 bysprings js, and a lubricating fluid-oil or the like-filling the freespace inside casing assembly e, el.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the orifices 0 in the heads of the hollowpistons z' are conical, each being tapered to provide an inwardly flaredpassage of gradually increasing section. T he lubricating fluid inpassing through said passages @'00 into the cylinder g and pistons z'encounters a greater resistance when flowing in the direction in whichthe section increases, that is, in the direction corresponding to theoutward movement of the pistons z', than when passing in the oppositedirection corresponding to the inward movement of thepistons z'.

The manner in which the device operates is practically self-evident fromthe description. Shocks transmitted toany wheel will result in rotationof corresponding arm a about shaft Z) as an axis, arms c attached to thelatter shaft react then on elements t of dash-pots z', g1 to compresssprings f1, f2 and force lubricating fluid outward through conicaloriices iw, elements jl, j2 functioning to oppose, frictionally, largeangular displacements of said arms. Springs js, frictionally engagingelements jl, j2 and the fluid passing through conical orifices 0cooperate to bring arms c back to equilibrium position without violencewhen springs f1, f2 force pistons c' outward.

Casings e may be detachably mounted on the vehicle chassis and may beconnected to a conduit providing a supply of oil under pressure (notshown), if desired. It Will be noted that, by unscrewing nut 6 andremoving arm c and end element el, the entire contents of casing cbecomes accessible. The magnitude of the compression on springs f1, f2and j may be varied by rotation of elements g1 and g2 and these springsmay be removed for repair by the same operation without detachingelements c and el. Arms @are not mounted radially to diminish anypossibility of bending or breakage and are, preferably even in number.

bviously, the invention is not to be taken as limited to the particularstructures described but may be modified in various ways, which will beobvious to those skilled in the art thus: assemblies j, h, g2 may bereplaced by those of the type g1, z', f1, f2 or conversely; frictionalassembly jl, .7'2 may be used alone without the adjunction of theresilient structures reacting on arms c or conversely; the shockabsorbing assembly inside casing e, e1 may be attached to otheroscillating structures of the nature of arm a; etc., etc.

1. In a vehicle provided with a wheel, a chassis, and a wheel supportingelement oscillatably supported at one extremity on said chassis andcarrying said wheel at its free extremity, means for diminishing theamplitude of oscillation of said wheel supporting element comprising anarm mounted to rotate about the axis of oscillation of the Wheellsupporting element and to react on the latter,

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

ANDR DUBONNET.

and a dash-pot bearing against said arm and including a pair of hollowtelescoping elements, one of said telescoping elements having a passageof gradually increasing section formed therethrough, whereby a fluidmoving through said passage encounters a greater resistance when flowingin one direction than in the direction opposite.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in combination with means operativeto frictionally oppose angular displacement of said arm.

3. In a vehicle provided with a wheel, a chassis, and a wheel supportingelement oscillatably supported at one extremity on'said chassis andcarrying said wheel at its free extremity, means for diminishing theamplitude of oscillation of said wheel supporting element comprising aplurality of arms mounted to rotate about the axis of oscillation of thewheel supporting element and to react on the latter, and a pair ofdash-pots mounted at angles to one another and bearing against saidarms, each of said dash-pots including a pair of telescoping elements,one of said telescoping elements having a passage formed through thewall thereof adapted to offer resistance to the passage of a Huidthereto, in combination with springs mounted inside said dash-pots andtending to force said f telescoping elements apart, and a springreacting laterally on one of said dash-pots and bearing against one ofsaid arms at its other extremity. A

4. In a vehicle provided with a wheel', a chassis, and a wheelsupporting element oscillatably supported at one extremity on saidchassis and carrying said wheel at its free extremity, means fordiminishing the amplitude of oscillation of said wheel supportingelement comprising four arms mounted to ro tate about the axis of thewheel supporting element and to react on the latter, four dashpotsmounted at right angles to one another

